Kathmandu, May 02: At least 20 people were seriously injured and over 1,000 arrested when riot police tried to control pro-democracy agitators in Nepal on Saturday.
Around 10,000 agitators marched into the main Kathmandu markets of New Road and Bhotahity, defying a government ban on holding such protests, leading to the riot police lathicharging and firing tear gas shells on them, Nepali Congress Kathmandu district president Tirtharam Dangol said.
More than 20 people were injured in the process, he said.
"The police intentionally targeted heads of the agitators, who were holding peaceful demonstrations at New Road demanding return to democratic rule in the country," Dangol alleged adding, police also arrested over 1,000 agitators from the streets.
Four parked cars and a motorbike were also damaged when the agitators clashed with the riot police, he said.
The agitators shouted slogans against the monarchy and demanded restoration of democratic rights to the people.
Bureau Report
